You succeeded in persuading your employer to provide you with a more comfortable chair at your desk. You’ve been feeling better at the end of the day since it came two weeks ago. You’ve seen an improvement in your back discomfort, and you can work for longer periods thanks to the new chair. They say you’re more invested in your job than you’ve been in months, and your output has increased. And when you tell them your findings, one of them always wants to know what you’re doing differently. So, you describe how much more productive you’ve been since your new ergonomic chair and how much less pain you’ve been in. This could happen to you!
Ergonomic chairs are made to alleviate the discomfort associated with sitting for extended periods. You may adjust the height, backrest, and armrests to make an ergonomic chair, like the Herman Miller chair, suit your body. Aside from lowering the probability of musculoskeletal ailments like back discomfort, these seats can boost productivity and improve work satisfaction. Moreover, ergonomic seats can alleviate back discomfort for these main reasons:
1. Promotes Good Posture
Specifically, ergonomic chairs are built to aid your body’s natural alignment and decrease stress on your spine, both of which can alleviate back discomfort. Meanwhile, most chairs have backs that reach down to the seat, supporting your shoulders. A forward-curving area in the lower back works with your lumbar spine’s natural slant. And lumbar support is a device used to keep the lower back safe.
Arms may relax at your side on adjustable armrests that cushion your elbows and forearms. This will prevent shoulder and arm strain as you work on a computer. You may sit with your feet flat on the floor, and your hips and knees flexed to around ninety degrees by adjusting the seat height. You may also avoid the front edge of the seat squeezing the back of your knees by adjusting the depth of the seat, which is possible on some ergonomic chairs like the Herman Miller chair, thanks to a back that slides forwards and backwards.
2. Alignment of the Hips and Pelvis
Poor hip and pelvic alignment is a leading cause of low back pain in sedentary people. The top of your pelvis should be level, like a bowl of soup, so it doesn’t leak out the front or the rear. The ASIS and PSIS are bony processes on the pelvic bones that should be parallel to one another when seated properly.
The anterior iliac crest (ASIS) and posterior iliac crest (PSIS) can be seen on the pelvic bones. And when these bone components align, your low back should have a little arch, with the convex section looking forward.
3. Keep Your Head and Shoulders Back
The posterior pelvic tilt, also known as sacral sitting, causes a slouched posture by flexing the lumbar spine and rolling the shoulders forwards. The head is prolonged forwards and the shoulders back in this posture. Your forward head position is accentuated when you gaze up at the screen, which puts your neck into extension. And you risk developing muscular guarding, soreness, and headaches when you operate in this way.
4. Lessen the Frequency of Needed Trunk Flexion
Repetitive trunk flexion is a side effect of sitting incorrectly in a regular office chair. If you’re slumped over at your desk, you might have to hunch forwards at the trunk to get to items. Your low back will hurt because of this, which probably happens many times a day. So, if you want to sit up straighter, invest in a high-quality ergonomic chair with enough back support. This should make it so you can use your desk’s features without bending down, relieving pressure on your lower back.
Author: Alisha